Park District Commission Appoints Former City Commerce Commissioner Rosa Escaleno as Interim CEO in the wake of Mike Kelley’s Oster – CBS Chicago

Chicago (CBS) — Following the resignation of long-time CEO Mike Kelley, the Chicago Park District Board on Wednesday nominated the recently retired Chicago Commerce Commissioner Rosa Escaleno as a provisional successor.

Kelly resigned as district CEO and general manager on Saturday. Immediately after Mayor Lori Lightfoot called on the Park District Commission to dismiss “immediately” the handling of sexual abuse scandals involving guards on the city’s beaches and pools.

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At the time, Mr Lightfoot said he had requested the Park District Commission to dismiss Kelly at a private meeting on Friday. Kelly handled allegations of general sexual harassment and abuse of women and girls who worked as guards on the district’s beaches and pools.

“At that meeting, I asked the board to dismiss Mike Kelley, general manager and chief executive officer of the park district, for good reason,” Wrightfoot said. “The culture of sexual abuse, harassment, and coercion prevailing within the district’s aquarium lifeguard program under his leadership is the urgency or accountability of the supervisor when new facts are revealed. Unacceptable, coupled with lack. Despite previous claims of new training, new procedures, and new personnel, the failure of current park district management responses to new claims of harm to children persists and is simply one. I can’t stand it for a long time, so my estimate is that it’s time to take on new leadership soon. “

The Park District Board officially accepted Kelly’s resignation at a meeting on Wednesday and appointed Escaleno as the district’s interim CEO and general manager while the search for a permanent successor began.

Escaleno retired from the city government at the end of July after playing various roles in the city hall, including the Commissioner of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Protection for over 30 years.

She began her career in the city hall under Mayor Richard M. Daley for many years and continued to maintain top positions under Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Lightfoot.

“Rosa is an experienced and highly qualified executive and a perfect expert. Rosa has my full support and confidence. Serving three mayors and over 30 years of public service Experienced Rosa has led the park district during this interim period, demonstrating her leadership skills and extensive experience in communicating her efforts to maintain beautiful public spaces and facilities. ”Lightfoot Escaleno Appointment Said in a statement about. “Rosa is the right leader for this moment to regain confidence in our park district and ensure that we continue to provide important services to our community. While looking for the next general manager. I look forward to ushering in a new era of accountability in the park system. “

During his tenure, Escareno served as Deputy Chief Operating Officer under former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Former Mayor Emanuel, Media Relations Director of the Chicago Fire Department, and Deputy Director of the Administrative and Budget Department. And as a license, and as a budget analyst at the Office of Management and Budget.

Escareño helped create the Business Issues and Consumer Protection Agency (BACP) in 2009, when the Daily administration merged the other two offices, and a few years later, in 2017, took the lead on behalf of the agency. I did.

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She will take over the interim CEO of the park district in at least two ongoing investigations into widespread sexual harassment and abuse allegations of women and girls who worked as guards on the beaches and pools of the park district.

Kelly’s resignation came just a few weeks later Chicago Park District Inspector General Elaine Little Resigns In an ongoing investigation of her office on a sexual abuse scandal.

Little’s resignation came later WBEZ, Chicago Public Radio reported When he resigned from the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center three years ago, few were under investigation for “suspicion of conflict and misconduct.”

Kelly said in August that 42 employees had been disciplined as a result of an investigation by Little’s office since the investigation into harassment between lifeguards began in March last year.

Two top managersBased on the information Kelly received from the Inspector General, both the beach and pool district assistant director and the beach and pool manager were put to an emergency stop last month. Both will remain suspended until the Inspector General’s investigation is complete.

In the meantime, two other employees have retired and are banned from future employment in the district, six have resigned and are placed on the district’s “banned” list, nine have been suspended and five have been suspended. Remained in an emergency stop and 18 were disciplined in writing.

Inspector General’s Investigation- First disclosed by WBEZ – In March 2020, when Kelly filed a complaint received from a former lifeguard, he described the toxic environment of Oak Street Beach and other lifeguards sexually harassed her and others and abused her and others sexually and physically. I accused him of being exposed to. She also reported witnessing rampant drug and alcohol use by fellow lifeguards.

Kelly did not hand over the letter to the Inspector General Until 6 weeks after he received it And last month, he defended his decision and said he first handed over the complaint to management.

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Meanwhile, Cook County lawyer Kim Foxx has launched a criminal investigation into the scandal and has publicly called for victims of sexual abuse or assault in the park area.

Park District Commission Appoints Former City Commerce Commissioner Rosa Escaleno as Interim CEO in the wake of Mike Kelley’s Oster – CBS Chicago

Source link Park District Commission Appoints Former City Commerce Commissioner Rosa Escaleno as Interim CEO in the wake of Mike Kelley’s Oster – CBS Chicago

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